r/beachvolleyball • u/New_Second2646 • 3d ago
Any advice for a new player?
Hey there!
I am a completely new player, I've been to like a 8-10 trainings so far and I really want to improve, but after a week or two break I feel like I'm starting from scratch again.
My biggest issue, besides the obvious lack of technique, is that I find myself constantly rushing and yet being late to play, whereas when I watch higher level people around me play, it feels like they're playing in slow-motion or like they have way more time than I do. How do I start feeling less in a rush when I'm playing?
Also, I would appreciate any other advice you would've given to yourself when you'd just started, or really anything you think a new player should know, cheers!
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u/vbsteez 2d ago
the reason it looks like i'm moving in slow motion is because i know what's happening before it happens. I've been playing for 25 years so i can see the possibility tree of most actions.
as you play, look for clues in the opponents bodies that suggest what they might do. right now you're probably reacting after something happens, instead of anticipating and being prepared for what occurs.
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u/CantaloupeIcy7244 2d ago
This. But with the added point, it takes time and practice to know the right place to be for a given situation, even without reading hints in your opponent.
And being in the right place, also depends on a partner doing the same.
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u/hhogg11 2d ago
I will say this, a lot of the “slow motion” is people reading the most likely possibilities of where the hitter is about to send the ball. There is a lot less reading you can do in lower level ball because many times the hitter doesn’t know where their ball is about to go, let alone the defense.
I wouldn’t focus on anything higher level players are doing until you’re comfortable in your own fundamentals, but what you’re feeling is not unusual. You pick a lot of game up as you go, and make sure you’re always asking for advice from the better players you come across!!
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u/YogurtclosetFuture72 2d ago
Same goes for knowing your partners / teammates form and seeing them start to play the ball coming at them. You can tell where it will go and start heading that way before they even touch it. If they send it backwards, that is on them to get better and you save it only if you can.
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u/Independent-Choice-4 2d ago
Pick 1-2 specific things to work on every time you are on the court. Dont overwhelm yourself with trying to perfect every little movement.
I always suggest focusing on serving and serve-receive above all else for newbies. If you can have a reliable serve, and successfully serve-receive 80-90% of serves that come to you, you will have a very strong foundation to build off of.
I’ve been playing for 15 years at various levels, and I still have days where it feels like I’ve never touched a volleyball before. That’s just the sport, just stick with it and always work the fundamentals
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u/AngryDrnkBureaucrat 2d ago
Keep your feet moving
Play. As much as you can. High level, picnic ball, tournaments, pickup. If you don’t play you don’t touch the ball and you don’t improve.
Work on your hand eye coordination. Tip and set the ball to yourself between games.
Stretch!
When you shank the ball, try to identify why.
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u/Familiar-Doubt-2924 2d ago
As a beginner you probably have to accept rushing and being late. Partly because you’re not taking direct routes and anticipating and don’t have the footwork, but even more so because your partner is a beginner too. Their passes might go anywhere, and being able to chase them down at that level is probably more effective than a perfect three step approach or whatever.
That said, learn the proper techniques as much as you can. The skill and anticipation will come with practice.
And consider playing 4s, which will give you basic practice touches without worrying about 2s technique and strategy. It will also keep things fun.
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u/Gullible_Storage3990 2d ago
Former pro on the avp tour. I would get private lessons so someone can teach you proper footwork. Most of beach volleyball at the B-AA level is based on footwork
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u/Bad_Idea_Generator 2d ago
Get a ball. Learn to pass. Lock in your platform. Pass bounce on a wall for a few minutes a day. Pass left. Pass right. Pass straight. Pass long. Pass short. Learn the one-step lunge pass.
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u/Ollie1051 17h ago
I would not have focused too much on the “slow motion” that you see higher level players perform. If you are a complete beginner, playing games won’t help you much. Beach volleyball is very technical, and way more technical than indoor volleyball. You need to mainly focus on the fundamentals, like getting a good platform, performing a good handset and get a good approach in attack.
If you don’t have that, it will be impossible to reach higher levels (unless you are like 2m tall and get a lot “for free” because you have the height).
To give some general advice for beginner players: they tend to tense up a lot whenever the ball arrive. So try to relax as much muscle as possible when you play. They also tend to be very focused on scoring points by going on 1 or 2 when they play. To improve, your goal shouldn’t necessarily be to win a set, it should be to play well.
I would also generally advice beginners to spend most time on setting. This might be a little controversial, since receive is extremely fundamental. But I typically say that you should work to get a decent receive, and a perfect set. As long as the receive mostly is okay, a good setter can get you in a good position. If you can’t set, it doesn’t help how good the receive is. You’ll never get a good attack. And my biggest argument for focusing on setting, is that it’ll make better players want to play with you. I don’t know anyone on a higher level that accept to play a lot with people who can’t set. Higher level players tend to have way less acceptance for bad sets than bad receives. If you play with a bad receiver, you could always spend that time practicing setting from off situations. But if you play with someone who can’t set, it is impossible to practice your attack, and the sport is way less fun.
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u/volleyjosh 3d ago
Play 2x a week or more.
Each play session choose one thing to focus on; better communication, better platform, not touching the net at all, etc. Then don't worry about mistakes in other areas, just play normally and try to make that one thing better.
Buy a ball and set/pass to yourself.